HOWARD - A Howard man has been charged with animal neglect after investigators say he left his dogs outdoors without food in frigid temperatures and failed to care for another pet that ultimately died.

Trinton A. Menomin, 22, is charged in Brown County Circuit Court with four counts of misdemeanor animal neglect. He is accused of leaving his two dogs outside in single digit temperatures without access to suitable shelter, food or water. He is also accused of not caring for and intentionally causing the death of a bearded dragon lizard.

According to a criminal complaint, sheriff's officials were called to Menomin's home in the 1200 block of Hillcrest Heights the night of Jan. 20. A neighbor reported the dogs at the address had been left outside and were barking. The neighbor's call marked the 55th call to police related to barking dogs or other nuisance complaints at the home, which Brown County law enforcement considers a "nuisance property."

When officers arrived they thought there might be someone dead in the home. Knocks at the door went unanswered, the house was dark with several windows left open and more than a month's-worth of mail was spilling out of the mailbox. The phone number associated with the homeowner, later identified as Menomin, was also disconnected.

Officers found two Great Dane dogs in the home's fenced-in yard — one of which was so skinny that it's "rib cage could be seen through the skin." The temperature that night with windchill was 1 below zero.

A layer of dust on cars in the garage and an undisturbed snow-covered driveway led police to believe no one had been to the property for an extended period of time, so they entered the house to conduct a welfare check.

Investigators didn't find anyone inside the house, but discovered a dead bearded dragon in a tank in the living room.

The complaint states the home reeked of urine and rotten garbage, and that animal feces was all over the floors. There also appeared to have been a fire on the stove in the kitchen.

"A bag of dog food had started on fire, and burned long enough to melt parts of the hood (fan and light) and cause charring to the cabinet doors above the hood," the complaint states.

Law enforcement condemned the property, and contacted Child Protective Services after observing photos of a child throughout the house and children's toys in one of the bedrooms.

Menomin showed up at the home as officers were leaving. He asked officers repeatedly why they were in his home and if they had a warrant. He gave no other statements, according to the complaint.

Authorities seized the dogs and took them a humane society for evaluation.

In addition to animal neglect and obstructing an officer, Menomin is charged with drug possession as police found nearly 4.5 ounces of marijuana in Menomin's home and car.

If convicted of all charges, he could face just over 4 years in prison, more than $50,000 in fines, or both.

Menomin was released from Brown County Jail Tuesday on a $2,500 signature bond.